Workers were called in to carry out repairs on the Millennium Bridge, over the Tyne, yesterday - just 66 days after it was put in place.

Cables on the structure, dubbed the Blinking Eye Bridge, were damaged as supports were removed.

So yesterday, workers carried out a nerve-jangling high wire act to make them safe.

John Dermott, director of Hi-Cote, the company carrying out the work, said: "Some of the cables were damaged as the spindle, which put the bridge in place, was removed.

"We are here to clean and repair the damage. We are also busy working on the Baltic Mill, at Gateshead, cleaning the brickwork."

The Bolton company, which is contracted to carry out work the length of the country, has a maintenance contract to repaint Blackpool Tower.

The Millennium Bridge arrived in a blaze of publicity with thousands of spectators lining the banks of the Tyne.

The 10,000-tonne crane that carried the 850-tonne bridge into its resting place, is still on the river.

The colossal Asian Hercules II should have returned to Rotterdam after its work was done in November, but bad weather has hampered its progress.

It is hoped the bridge will be in full working order in April.